Skip to main content

Report of the High Level Regional Meeting on law enforcement co-operation in Central Asia in combating organised crime

Description

This report, produced by the SPMU, contains a summary of presentations and discussions, as well as conclusions and recommendations of the High Level Regional Meeting that took place on 1 July 2009 in Astana, Kazakhstan

Summary

The Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) has been assisting the participating States to improve regional law enforcement co-operation in combating organised crime through the effective implementation of the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC). The UNTOC, which all Central Asian countries have ratified, provides a solid legal platform for law enforcement co-operation.

All of the countries in the region (except Turkmenistan) took part in the meeting. Deputy Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and, Mongolia and high ranking representatives from Greece, Russian Federation, USA, Turkey, and France participated in the meeting. Representatives of international organisations such as Interpol, Eurojust, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC) participated in the meeting and provided an international perspective and support.

The Kazakh Ministry of Interior demonstrated a keen interest to take the lead in further actions aimed at improving regional co-operation and agreed to be the Secretariat of the working group recommended by participants of the high level meeting. The SPMU is of the opinion that agreed recommendations will be implemented during the Kazakhstan’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2010 and the Ministry of Interior of Kazakhstan will organise working group meetings which will play an important role in the process.